Brazen Love [Chapter 2]

 

Chapter 2:

Hwang Bo sat opposite the man that was her date for the day. He was a businessman. The looks were okay. She had already decided to wholeheartedly go into these dates with marriage in mind. But no matter how hard she tried, she kept wondering what Hyun Joong would be doing right now if he was the one that was sitting across from her. She got so lost in her imagination, that when the man put his meat and lettuce together and ate it at the same time, she found herself crashing back to reality.

"You're more beautiful in the magazine pictures," the man said, chewing as he spoke, staring down the dress of the singer/model sitting across from him. He had finally given in to his parents to consider marriage, but starting with someone almost in their thirties wasn't his idea of a marriage prospect, no matter how firm she still looked right now, soon she would start sagging everywhere and who knew how many wrinkles her make up was already covering.

Hwang Bo had already begun to form a polite response in her mind, but then she registered what he had said. It hadn't been a compliment. Her polite smile dropped, and his obvious sizing her up wasn't helping matters. She really didn't have time for this. She didn't come here to be insulted. She decided to try to keep things civil. She pasted the smile back on her face and let out a small laugh. "That's true of almost everyone you see in magazines," she said.

He nodded, still chewing, not even bothering to swallow before he took a sip of orange juice. Hwang Bo's face scrunched in distaste. 'At least Hyun Joong-ssi has basic manners,' Hwang Bo thought. She quickly shook that thought from her mind. No matter how unpleasant the company, she shouldn't compare every man she met to him. It's not like they could live up to his handsomeness. She watched as another meat-packed roll of lettuce found it's way into the man's mouth. 'They should at least be able to live up to his politeness.'

"So," the man said, still chewing. "You know we're going to have to get that tattoo removed right?" She wasn't exactly what he had been looking for, but he figured having a singer as his wife would boost his popularity some. "I have an image to uphold."

Hwang Bo immediately stood up. She remembered the last time she had called Hyun Joong out to the beach and had worn a back baring one-piece bathing suit. He had traced the outline of her tattoo after rubbing sunblock across her shoulder blades. 'Noona, this tattoo,' he said, running his finger up a dark swirl that lead to a flower, then up and over to the letters of her name. 'Just looking at it, I can tell almost everything about you in one glance.'

'Hmm?' she had asked, turning around to face him, enjoying the feel of his finger on her skin. 'What can you tell?' she had asked with a smile.

Hyun Joong leaned toward her, keeping a hand on her back. 'That you're tough,' she laughed. 'Well, only tough people and bikers get tattoos, so I figure you have one of those too.' She laughed even harder thinking about the broken motorcycle in her garage. 'That you're proud of who you are and your body because in order to show people this thing,' he glanced down at her bathing suit, 'you naturally have to expose a bit.' She blushed and hit him on the arm. 'And~' Hwang Bo snapped herself out of the memory, once again staring at the disgusting man before her who, with one sentence, had let her know this man wasn't willing to get to know anything about her.

"I have an image to uphold too," she said, staring into the man's startled face. "That's why I hope this will be the last time we see each other." She turned and left the restaurant. When she was outside, she closed her eyes against the refreshing breeze. 'Why do I have to suffer insults from a man like that?' she wondered to herself. 'Just because I'm this age, I won't settle for just anyone.' She sighed and reached for her cell phone, knowing she was going to do something that she swore she would never do again. And, here it was, barely two days later and she was going for a spin in his world again. She opened her phone and dialed Hyun Joong's number.

*Mmm?* Hwang Bo felt her breath come in short gasps when she heard the sleepy moan float from the other end of the line.

She cleared her throat and put on a smile. "Hyun Joong-ah! Did I wake you up?"

Hyun Joong sat up, suddenly wide awake when he heard the husky voice come through the line. He felt his palms begin to sweat slightly with uncertainty. She had thrown him out only two days ago like he was nothing, and now here she was calling him again. He brushed his hair back knowing that no matter how she had treated him, whatever she asked he would try to do. *Ah-nee, but why are you calling?*

"Just...because..." she said. She wasn't sure what to say. She wanted to be with him today, but she knew asking him to drop everything and come just because she called would be a bit too much...especially after how she had treated him last time. 'But if he offers...'

*Noona, is something wrong?* Hyun Joong was concerned. Hwang Bo was never this hesitant in asking for anything.

"Hyun Joong-ah. I'm having a bad day today." She paused, waiting for his reply. Nothing came. "I could use some cheering up," she pushed further.

Hyun Joong's heart leapt at the indirect invitation. He immediately threw on whatever he could find, checked the mirror to make sure there was no sleep in his eyes, then threw on a thick pair of shades still with the phone attached to his ear. *I'll be there as quick as I can, Noona. Your place?* he asked, not bothering to hide the excitement in his voice.

A smile spread across Hwang Bo's face. She had been a bit afraid that he would be upset about the last time, but she was starting to realize that she could count on this kid to be there for her every time. "Yeah," she said, catching his excitement. "I hope your schedule isn't too busy today. I don't want to keep you from anything."

Hyun Joong paused in the doorway, his hand halfway to his car keys hanging on his bedroom door. He did have a schedule this afternoon with the rest of SS501 for a photo shoot. He checked the time on his phone. In nearly an hour and a half actually. He raked a hand through his hair then snatched up his keys. *There's no problem, Noona. I'll be there in less than fifteen minutes.* He snapped the phone shut, maybe he would be able to get to the shoot later after cheering up his Buin.

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Hyun Joong stopped in front of Hwang Bo's door and calmed his nerves. He wondered somewhere in the back of his mind why she called him so suddenly. Was it because her marriage meetings weren't going well? That thought struck a sour note in him. Or was it because she just truly missed him? He couldn't stop the hope that rose in his chest at the thought. He rang the doorbell, trying to contain his excitement at just being able to see her again. He had worried that she had kicked him out for good this time.

Hwang Bo opened the door, a welcoming smile directed toward the young idol. Hyun Joong smiled back, it almost felt like his lips were splitting. She looked radiant. She was wearing a pale pink dress that fluttered around her knees, but when she turned to let him inside, he saw that from her shoulder blades, down to base of her back were exposed. His mouth went dry as his eyes followed the lines of her tattoo as they swayed with the motion of her back. He shut the door behind him and turned off his phone. He wasn't about to let anything interrupt these few precious moments with his Buin. He watched her walk around the counter and start to slice fruit, and suddenly remembered the last time he was there. 'I hope she doesn't kick me out again today.'

He wanted to ask her about the marriage meetings, but he was afraid that bringing up that topic wouldn't be a good idea. "Are you slicing those for me Bu-" he stopped, remembering that she didn't like him to call her like that. "Are you slicing those for me?" he asked.

Hwang Bo noticed that Hyun Joong stopped short of calling her Buin. She was about to look up and tease him when she noticed him wipe his hands nervously on the side of his pants and blink back at her uncertainly. The smile dropped from her face and she decided to answer him seriously. "Of course, Hyun Joong-ah." Her smile came back as she carried the fruit over to him. She sat down beside him, close enough for their thighs to touch, then speared a slice of apple on the tip of a thin silver desert fork and held it up to his mouth. "Ahh," she mimed, feeling foolish, but giddy.

Hyun Joong was all too aware of the contact of their bodies. He tried to take the fork from her hand, but she snatched it back and pouted. "Ahh," she said again. More forcefully this time.

Hyun Joong looked into Hwang Bo's determined eyes and opened his mouth. It's not like he really wanted to resist anyway. He felt Hwang Bo's hand touch his bottom lip to wipe away an imagined drop of juice. She suddenly grabbed his arm and twined her fingers through his, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Shillang," she whispered.

Hyun Joong's heart thumped and sudden fire rushed through his veins and warmed his body at her use of the word 'Shillang.' He hadn't heard that from her in a while. But...her actions from day to day were confusing him. He wanted to fight the hope and happiness that swelled in him because she didn't feel anything toward him but the feelings of a noona to her dongsaeng. Did she? He kept very still, as if any move he made would make her jump away from him like a scalded cat. "Hmm?" he asked.

She turned toward his neck and breathed in the scent of him. Her eyes scanned his face then dropped to his lips. She looked up into his eyes, knowing what she was looking for there and finding it. His eyes told her that whatever she wanted from him she could have. Hwang Bo leaned up and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Shillang, I have a lunch I have to go to in a few minutes." Hyun Joong felt his heart almost stop. 'She's telling me to leave again.' He tensed. Hwang Bo felt his muscles tighten against her side and rewarded the young idol for his distress with a Mona Lisa smile. "So, do you think you have time later tonight. I want to spend more time with you."

Hyun Joong breathed a sigh of relief and Hwang Bo felt it. She felt a bit guilty that she was causing him any kind of distress, but she also felt a bit of pride that she could manage to get a guy like Hyun Joong to feel anything for her. When he uttered an eager 'okay!' she ushered him out the door. After he left, she leaned against the closed door and touched her lips softly, thinking back on what she just did. A smile washed across her face. "Omo!" she said to herself. "I can't believe I did that! I must be crazy...crazy." She looked in the mirror and saw that she was glowing. She found that she couldn't wait for later that night. But first...she frowned and the glow left her face...another marriage meeting.